You have 2 410's? Do they have any markings inside the hollow part? Sticker or label or something? what kind of PUPS? supposed to get it tomorrow so I'd love to compare what you have to what I'm gonna get.

Not sure who you're corresponding with... but those serial numbers are very reliable for dating, this guitar (or at least the neck...) was made in January of 1977.

sarcaster wrote:

The headstock shape was meant to mimic the old Electra shape

No, it was an Electra, made in 1977, and sometime afterwards the Alvarez logo was applied.

I'll cut anybody slack on 35 year old memories, but it sounds like this guy is talking pretty authoritatively on something that he doesn't really remember... I'd take it with a grain (a whole shaker...) of salt.

definitley. if you look at an Electra x410, the front of the headstock is the same color as the back... on the Alvarez, the front is much lighter, as if someone stripped off the Electra and put on the Alvarez logo...

The front looks to me like a whole new veneer and the "A" serial number is not inconsistent with an Electra. In fact back in April there was a 410 sold with S/N A776164. I believe yours is a full bore Electra X410 with a new headstock veneer and that someone stuck an aftermarket bridge onto at one point.

if you look at an Electra x410, the front of the headstock is the same color as the back... on the Alvarez, the front is much lighter, as if someone stripped off the Electra and put on the Alvarez logo...

Good eye! The back of the headstock looks to be a 3 piece. The front looks like a veneer? I dont' think it was sanded and branded - this is definately a veneer.

The 410 pics I've seen on this forum look to be one piece necks - so maybe......this is a clue? The ebay pics don't show the back of the neck to see if it is a 3 piece neck. I will know tomorrow.

I just can't wait to get this thing, take some pics and let all of you get a good look at it - so we can figure this thing out until Tom P takes a look and gives the final word.

Either way I am happy that there is an interest here in helping figuring it out. There isn't a complete 'book of knowledge' out there on guitars, so forums like this are very helpful. Thanks all for the comments.

So the FedEx guy walks up to my door holding the guitar case - not a box with a case in it. Who ships a guitar in just the case????? Who doesn't put an object in a box with some type of padding in it??? Even the delivery guy was like "I wanted to make this my first stop because I don't want to be responsible for this any longer than I have to". That's like sending a $1000 in a clear envelope.

That being said, it did arrive safely. I am overly impressed byt the neck. The action is very low without buzz, and the .010's I put on feel like .008's - it is very easy to play. The strings that it shipped with felt like .007's so I swapped them out immediately but unfortunatley did not take a look at what pickups are in it as I was anxious to play it.

The hardware is a bit tarnished, and the fretboard & frets need a good cleaning, but overall this guitar is in great shape. After a good cleaning it will be about an 8.5 out of 10.

After taking a good look, I'm pretty sure there is no doubt this is a Jazz Strad - and that Alvarez just re-veneered the headstock and applied their logo.

All in all - I am one happy guitar owner - and wish I was aware of the x410's before as I would certainly have chased around for one.

I tried to upload pics here but got an error, so here are the links to some pics that I posted on the Westone forum (Have a thread going over there too)

Being that they're such nice guitars, and yours is probably one of the only ones in existence, I might check with a good luthier or furniture restoration guy about fixing that up. A competent pro could probably make those holes disappear for a relatively minimal outlay. I didn't notice the different neck pickup before either. The bridge looks stock but not the neck. How are you liking the sound?

I checked with one of my SLM connections. He thought there is a good chance it may have been an employee guitar.

My current theory: The date coded SN doesn't match up with the Alvarez logo- they're from different eras. But imagine a scenario like this: there a new old stock X410 sitting around on the shelf for years because of a blemish or damage to the face of the headstock. Employee wants a guitar, finds the X410 and likes it enough to have the repair shop fix the headstock. They put a veneer on it, and a contemporary logo on it because that's what's available at the time. Maybe he has the tailpiece changed at the same time. Employee eventually sells or trades the guitar.

Anyway, no matter how it came to be, it's pretty cool. And, while rare, I don't think the rarity changes the value much. It's only rare because it's been modified, albeit probably by the luthiers at the SLM guitar shop.

By the way, my buddy also said that he used to own and play one of these back in the day. Same model, same finish. He speaks very highly of the quality of this model, and that's saying quite a bit. That's a big thumbs up.

I'm still checking with some other people who may be able to shed more light on this one.